Aston Villa scored two goals in the space of five minutes in the second half to overwhelm West Ham, winning 2-1 and progressing to the fourth round of the FA Cup, denying Graham Potter a win in his first game in charge of the Hammers.
Lucas Paqueta fired a shot to give Potter a dream start at Villa Park on his return to the dugout, 20 months after quitting his last job at Chelsea in April 2023, but on Thursday He only managed one training session for West Ham following his appointment.
However, Amadou Onana and Morgan Rodgers turned the game in the hosts’ favor, helping them reach the last 32 for the second time in nine seasons.
Paqueta tested its momentum within the first 45 seconds with a rocket just inches over, and nine minutes later, late-arriving side-footed Crisencio Somerville fired past Robin Olsen to take the lead.
Image: Lucas Paqueta puts West Ham ahead after nine minutes
However, Niklas Furkruk, who missed 10 Premier League games between September and December due to an Achilles tendon problem, limped off after standing up clutching his hamstring as he sprinted forward. The atmosphere quickly turned somewhat sour.
Villa’s Ross Barkley was also forced off with an injury soon after, and both injuries disrupted a first half in which the hosts struggled to recover. By intermission, they hadn’t made a single shot.
More than an hour passed without a single Villa shot on target, but then the pendulum began to swing in their direction.
Image: Amadou Onana scores Aston Villa’s controversial equalizer
Immediately after Łukasz Fabianski expertly saved Ian Maassen’s onslaught, Villa were awarded a corner kick despite Onana’s shot appearing to go wide, and in the 71st minute Villa were awarded a corner kick from a set-piece. The international struck home from close range. Minutes.
Less than five minutes later, the hosts attacked again with a relentlessly effective move, with Ollie Watkins collecting a pass from Emi Buendia and Rodgers taking the lead.
Image: Rodgers fires Villa head on.
As Villa quickly tried to end the game, substitute Jacob Ramsey hit a shot that hit the post, but the mistake was inconsequential as West Ham were unable to pull back.
